Dubai: Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed annoyance over the indifferent attitude of their government to requests to ease passport renewal services.

Applicants gathered outside the Consulate General in Dubai and the Embassy in Abu Dhabi at midnight to collect tokens for their turn to submit their applications.

All tokens are distributed at 7 am while people, especially families, who go to the missions during normal working hours have found themselves failing to submit their applications, the Gulf News reports.

Tariq Iqbal Soomoro, the Consul-General, said he felt sorry for hundreds of Pakistanis waiting in queues. He said he was doing the best he could with the available space and staff.

Soomoro spoke at a function held at the Pakistan Association in Dubai to mark Pakistan National Day.

Hundreds attended the function which was held in the new hall of the yet-to-be finished building of the Pakistan Sports and Recreation Club in Dubai.

Community members criticised the Pakistani missions and their government for not solving the longstanding problems people face in renewing their passports.